JC MSFL DIVISION TWO
GLENTHORNE UNITED B 1 LOS BLANCOS 1
It was a tale of two penalties as Glenthorne secured a 1-1 draw against Los Blancos.
The game started with Glenthorne keeping the ball nicely, building attack after attack from deep and keeping Los Blancos guessing with free flowing football. They could well have been ahead in the first couple of minutes when a free kick by Jay Lawrence missed everyone but captain Jordan Sapler whose finish at the far post should have been better.
Glenthorne kept much of the ball without ever testing the Blancos goal. With not long left of the first half a long a long goal kick from Josh Cohen sent player-manager Adam Hersh through on goal and a delicious chip over the on-rushing Bradley Grant with Blancos first attack of the game.
The midfield of Lawrence, Ross Segal and Jamie Crawford were showing promise in keeping the ball and recycling possession and the front three of Ryan Cole, Adam Goldman and Callum Stein proved dangerous with their passing down the flanks.
That’s how it stayed until half time. Glenthorne came out determined in the second half to get a deserved equaliser. Their goal came soon after the break when a ball bounced up and hit the hand of a Los Blancos defender. Sapler stepped up to take the penalty and somewhat fortunately guided the ball past the keeper to equalise.
The home side had the chance to take the lead when the dangerous Cole neatly turned the full back and was brought down. Sapler stepped up again but this time his poor spot kick was saved by Cohen down to his left.
From the resulting corner, Sapler had a bullet header cleared off the line and then hit the post from the next corner. The home side felt a goal was on the cards and a Segal dipping volley flew just over the bar.
Jay Lawrence was next to test the keeper after a cross from Dave Levy found him at the far post he rose above the defender but his header was somehow saved by a full-length fingertip save.
Another penalty shout for the home side was turned down after what looked like a goaline handball by the defending side.
Los Blancos looked dangerous on the counter-attack with their long ball bouncing over Sapler and Sam Rank but Dave Levy and Liam Stein provided good cover to snuff out the danger.
The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and Eddy Nathan, centre back for Blancos, made two vital goal-line clearances in a frantic last 10 minutes.
Glenthorne joint-manager Liam Stein told JC Sport: "All in all a good start to the season, but there is definite improvements to make in the coming weeks.
"Los Blancos are definitely a team that will take points off other teams in our division and it was vital not to lose the game. Saying that we probably should have taken all three points but it's something we know we need to work on."
Blancos boss Adam Hersh praised his defence. "We expect Cohen to make saves and stop penalties but Eddy Nathan performance was superb and he would have walked into any team this Sunday!
"Ultimately we are happy with a draw away to tough opposition and we look forward to the reverse fixture."
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